Pocket tool-holding device.



L. GINGRAS.

POCKET TO0L HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIQ, I915.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

WITNESSES counnam vuwoamn co.,wnsmnn1ou. D. c.

GINGRAS, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

POCKET TOOL-HOLDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19,1915. Serial No. 29,197.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUISGINGRAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesen and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket. Tool- Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification his invention relates to pockets and to tool retaining devices which may be inserted therein so as to grip a tool which may be placed in the'pocket insuch a. manner as to prevent it from easily slipping outtherefrom.

The device is so constructed that it can be readily inserted .inany pocket within reasonable limits of size and can be readily detached therefrom. IVhen in place, it cannot be shaken out of the pocket or out of 1 place. When in place, it not only is so arranged as to readily receive a tool but it helps to hold the mouth of the pocket open so that the tool may be readily slipped thereinto.

It is especially adaptable for pockets in overalls in which carpenters rules of" a well known type are usuallycarried.

The invention consists generally in the combination for a pocket, of removable pocket gripping means, and tool gripping means fixedthereto.

More specifically, it comprises the combination of a substantiallyU shaped unitary clip member of narrow spring metal, the two substantially parallel arms of which are spring pressed away from each other and carry on their inward sides tool gripping parts or fingers spring pressed toward each other so as to yieldably engage opposite sides of a tool or the like.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front eleration of the preferred form of my device when removed from the pocket. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my device in place in a pocket with a carpenters rule in place therein. Fig. 3 isa top view .of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail showing how this device can be made of a single strip of metal. Fig. 5 is a view from the right of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modification of the device'in place in a pocket, shown by the dotted lines, with a pair of pliers in place therein. Fig. 7 is a detail front elevation and Fig. 8 an elevation from the right of Fig. 7 showing another type of tool gripping member.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of another modification made of a single metal, Fig. 9 showing it by itself and F ig. 110 in place in a pocket shown by the dotted mes. Similar letters and numbers refer to similar-parts. The preferredform of my device shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2 has its pocket gripping member formed of a single strip of narrow spring metal A, B, C bent in substantially a U shape having a bottom B and side arms A and C which preferably slope away from each other as shown. Sides A and C are bent outwardly at their ends 10 and 11 to form outwardly projecting claws or teeth solder or otherwise near the'top on the inside or an opposltearm A or C. These spring toward fingers preferably curve inwardly each other with a generous curve and then extend downward sloping toward each other as shown.

H represents the cloth of a garment and K represents a pocket having a bottom edge 20 and opposite lengthwise edges 21 and 22.

24 is a carpenters rule' of a well known type. 7

lVhen my device is taken between the fingers and thumb and the side arms A and G are squeezed together, it can be readily inserted in the pocket K, and when the arms are released as shown in Fig. 2, the claws 10 and 11 will grip the cloth at points adjoining the opposite lengthwise edges of the pocket and will hold the device in place until the arms A and C are again pressed together. If a tool such as rule 24: is inserted into the pocket, it will be guided by fingers 12 and 13 so that it must be pressed down between them forcing them somewhat apart and when once in place, the pressure of these fingers thereon will hold it in place and prevent it from slipping out.

The arms A and C may be made wide enough so as to distend the pocket and keep its front wall away from its back wall, whereby a tool may be the more readily inserted therein. This is shownin Fig. 3.

In Fig. 6, a pocket is shown in dotted lines FIG.

LOUIS GINGRAS, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO A. PIERRE piece of spring and a. somewhat Vdifi'erent construction I at theirtops,-which ever form is used, should shown wherein the sides A and Grand bottom B together with claws 10 and 11 are the same, but the tool gripping parts Hand 15 are fixed to A and C' each at point well 7 down thereon and the upper ends of these fingers insteadof the lower ends are free-c to be pushed as'ide; In such case, it is well to bend such upper-ends 1 6 and 17 outwardly to morereadily rec e -;e the tool, such forma stance as 'the plie'rs .{Instead of allowing the tool 'ri oin ""arts to have a free end '7 at the top or bottom, Irnayuse abow shaped part such as30 'shown'in Figs; 7 and 8 which 7 hasa slot 32 orf33jat each end throughwhich 7 passes a-headedstud 34: 01*;35 fixed to the inside of a part A or-C. The slots permit this 7 spring tool holding part to give when atool' isinserted orwithdrawn;

In Figs. 9 and" 10,1 show another modificationwherein the whole device is made of onestripofspring metal. This 1s bent in a V Ushape at the bottomO, thence upward at 41 and 4 52,, thence outward 2x143 and 4t and at the" end still more outwardly to iorin claws +l5and, 416.1. s r

;As shown in Fig. 10, when'this deviceis in place,- the angle between the parts 41 and 43 and between 42and 44 will engage a tool such as rule.2, while the whole device will tend to pressoutwardlyfthe claws45 and 16. f The construction shownintFi'gs. 1, 2 and 3 may be modified as showninFi-gs. 4 and 5 t :by being madeentirely of onestrip of sheet metal; which extends upwardfand outward formingjthe pocket gripping members, suchl as 50, which are then bent sharply back and inward as shown'at 51, while a claw-or tooth 52 is stamped outwardly from-the'metal as. shown. 1 Bythis construction, the use of rivets or solder between the tool gripping parts and the pocket gripping member is avoided.

It is desirable that the toolgripping parts,

tcpiestof this patent may be obtained fo r five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

also 'l aving curve well up and toward each other so that whenthey are distorted as the tool is forced between them, they will grip it near its up periend instead of near its lowerend, as it is thereby held more firmly. V

I prefer to use a fiat strip of metal for the 7 pocket gripping members as the pocket is therebykept open allowing a tool to be more readilyhinserted, but it is manifest that strips of round or oval metal might be used in-place thereof/I I prefer the claws or teeth ping arms but they may be anywhere 011 the 'Xterior' sides thereof. V

'Iclaimz. r I 1. In a device of thefchara'cter:described, a substantially U-shaped unitary clip member formed of narrow spring metal, the opposite arms thereof adjacent the top, having 7 outwardly projecting claws to engage the opposite lengthwise edges of a pocket, and

adapted to yieldably engage opposite sides of a tool or the like. I

2. Ina device of the character described, a substantially U-shaped unitary clip member of narrow spring metal having outwardly pro ecting claws at its upper ends to engage the opposite lengthwise edges of a pocket, and two oppositelydisposed inwardly projecting spring fingers each projecting' and, curving inwardly and downwardly from its fixed end toward the other so that they areadapted to engage the'opposite sides of a tool. .7

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature in presence of two'witnesses.

, Louis einenas.

Witnessesz' V V J AMES GREILnY, A.'PIER1;E GINGRASJ Washington, D, C.

p on the outside at the ends of the pocket grip inwardly projecting parts 

